The overdue thank you list – Blog Awards 2009

The 2009 Blog Awards with 300+ people attending have definitely had the most positive feedback publicly and privately. Each year we get better at this lark where we try and mix a sense of fun and good organisation. When everything comes off perfectly, then we may retire. And we also have our own Builidng 7 conspiracies too, that’s when you know you’re bigtime. Thanks!

Irish Blog Awards 2009

There are a huge amount of people that need to be thanked for their help with this. While it may seem to have run smoothly on the night there was a lot of stress and turmoil and shouting happening behind the scenes. Like the kitchen run by that foul-mouthed ginger fella.

Firstly thank you to the very gracious sponsors who decided to invest in an event that is not very commercial and where the list of what you can’t get is longer than the list of what you will get. The sponsors invest in a community event and all take part in the community by promoting the longlistees, the shortlistees and the winners with many sponsors traveling on the day to mix with those that attend. It’s not really traditional sponsorship as these sponsors work a bit more than those that just throw money in return for seeing their logo on a trophy and in some leaflets. In return though they build good personal relationships with what is a huge community of bloggers now.

Thanks to the 70+ judges this year too who really worked hard to judge some great blogs.

The videos and intros this year have set a standard that probably will not get matched and will be futile to do so. Thanks to John Williams and scriptwriter Twenty Major for the intro, intermission and end video as well as the category introductions. A huge thanks to Darragh Doyle, Darren Byrne, Anthony McGuinness and an army of people who made widly funny and entertaining videos. Seriously, have a look at the videos and realise that people took time off work to put this together and put in weeks of work. The only motivation was to give something back to their peers. It’s humbling and there’s a definite future in video for many of these folks. Some are saying this is what upped the game this year and it’s hard to argue against it.

And then there’s the photos. The brilliant photos by Ryan once again. And the hundreds of other photos taken by everyone else that attended.

A big thank you to Ciara, our Venue Finder for recommending the Cork Airport International Hotel and to Carmel Lonergan and the hotel staff who were amazingly helpful and made this the easiest event to organise so far. I’ve never met a hotel so eager to help an event along. Even the staff were contributing to the stage on the night and draggning out extra lights to add a bit of colour. What other hotel volunteers to take their own paintings off their walls so we can run an art exhbition? Speaking of which, thank you to Eolai for bringing down and showing off his art. He’s also got a charity auction going for one of his paintings.

Did you like the speech bubbles? Fran made all those and he’s got a caption competition for the best caption.

Thanks to Steven Day for being the ref for the game of Twister:
Stevan Day, super ref

Thanks to Radio Friendly Brian Greene for the sound. Vote for him!
Brian Greene

Thanks as well to Klara and specially Alexia for all the hard work they put into this. And to the many many more people who got missed in this first draft but will get added over time. Edit: See, I forgot a hugely important person:

Thanks to John Blackbourn, the web god who built and admined the nomination and judging system. Cheers John!

Thanks to Sarah and Nigel in Murray Consultants and Heineken Ireland for supplying the free beer at the start of the night. A lot of free beer. Also thanks to Heineken for those fantastic magnums of Heineken.

Of course then thanks to everyone that blogs and supports blogging and has encouraged blogging.

Lastly and most importantly, thanks to this wonderful man who turns it up to 11 when it comes to being an MC. I really wonder why Rick doesn’t get asked to do more MCing events, though it’s nice that he’s ours:

Rick O'Shea and his wuvvly beard

So this is our thank you but please do thank those sponsors and the hotel and your MC for their work. It takes dozens to put an event like this together and very understanding companies to sponsor it. See you somewhere in Ireland for the Blog Awards 2010

17 Comments

  1. brian greene says:

    thanks everyone.! why not cork again ? now look what i started.

  2. I think the fact that it was in Cork made it for a lot of the Dublin folk. Having organized tons of events over the years very few people realize what goes on behind the scenes and although thankful to Damien and crew they will never though the late nights and huge effort went in so that we could all swan in and get hammered and enjoy it. I want a blog awards every weekend please.

  3. And thank you Damien.

  4. Des says:

    Indeed – Huge thanks to all of the above, and also Damien.
    Fantastic night, truly enjoyed it. Great job!

    Des

  5. Daily Spud says:

    I’d echo all of the above thanks and more. First time at the blog awards for me and I was truly impressed with the event and organisation. Looking forward to 2010 already! Thanks Damien.

  6. McAWiliiams says:

    Totally agree with sentiments above, your energy inspires so many to want to help. You run a great ship captain looking forward to 2010 now!!!

  7. Grannymar says:

    Thanks to the Master! A fab night of, friendship, fun, food and frivolity as well as the Awards!

    Roll on IBA 2010.

  8. I think you nailed it with ‘upped the game’. The event seems to be getting only stronger.

  9. Rick says:

    Those are my legs in the air.

    Messy.

  10. steph says:

    Cheers! Damien

    You, Suzy and Val were the icing on the cake on Tubridy today.

    Hats off to you!

  11. Fiona says:

    Can I add my thanks to all and sundry. It was a hoot!

  12. Ciara Feely says:

    Damien, tis true, it was not a normal award ceremony – thank god! I had tried to describe to friends beforehand what it would be and could only come up with “a fun party without the stuffiness of an award ceremony”, it is more though, it was a gathering of great people who really are part of a community and are delighted to celebrate in each other’s successes and share their knowledge. All of this is created online- but strengthened by meeting in person. I think the “weekend” away aspect for many people really added to it – like a Blog holiday camp!

    Well done Mr. Mulley.

  13. Aidan says:

    Many thanks to all who helped put the event together, it was a fabulous night.

  14. talktourism says:

    Excellent site and delighted to have such a resource to refer other budding Irish bloggers to! Perhaps not for the purists, but I have been actively encouraging Irish tourism SME’s to get online and perhaps even blogging… I have reffered them to this blog to find and view the best in the business.

  15. brian greene says:

    @Ciara Feely: you give me a freaky idea re. Blog holiday camp!

    Turn
    Trabolgan Holiday Village
    into
    TráBlog-in Holiday Village (the big blog love-in 2010)

    keep it Cork. & they do conferences! http://url.ie/1bh5 but avoid the Barney photo rip off.

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